Endoscopic methods and devices for transnasal procedures

Title: Endoscopic methods and devices for transnasal procedures.Abstract: Medical devices, systems and methods that are useable to facilitate transnasal insertion and positioning of guidewires and various other devices and instruments at desired locations within the ear, nose, throat, paranasal sinuses or cranium. Direct viewing of such placements via an endoscope. ...

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/725,151, filed Mar. 15, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/647,530, filed Dec. 27, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/522,497, filed Sep. 15, 2006, and is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/193,020 filed Jul. 29, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/829,917 filed Apr. 21, 2004, Ser. No. 10/944,270 filed Sep. 17, 2004, Ser. No. 11/116,118 filed Apr. 26, 2005 and Ser. No. 11/150,847 filed Jun. 10, 2005, each such application being expressly incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference thereto, and each of which we claim priority to under 35 USC §120.

This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/844,874, filed Sep. 15, 2006, which application is expressly incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference thereto and to which we claim priority under 35 USC §119.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to medical apparatus and methods and more particularly to devices and methods that are useable to facilitate transnasal insertion and positioning of guidewires and various other apparatus at desired locations within the ear, nose, throat, paranasal sinuses or cranium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is currently the most common type of surgery used to treat chronic sinusitis. In a typical FESS procedure, an endoscope is inserted into the nostril along with one or more surgical instruments. The surgical instruments are then used to cut tissue and/or bone, cauterize, suction, etc. In most FESS procedures, the natural ostium (e.g., opening) of at least one paranasal sinus is surgically enlarged to improve drainage from the sinus cavity. The endoscope provides a direct line-of-sight view where by the surgeon is typically able to visualize some but not all anatomical structures within the surgical field. Under visualization through the endoscope, the surgeon may remove diseased or hypertrophic tissue or bone and may enlarge the ostia of the sinuses to restore normal drainage of the sinuses. FESS procedures can be effective in the treatment of sinusitis and for the removal of tumors, polyps and other aberrant growths from the nose.

In order to adequately view the operative field through the endoscope and/or to allow insertion and use of rigid instruments, many FESS procedures of the prior art have included the surgical removal or modification of normal anatomical structures. For example, in many prior art FESS procedures, a total uncinectomy (e.g., removal of the uncinate process) is performed at the beginning of the procedure to allow visualization of and access to the maxillary sinus ostium and/or ethmoidbulla and to permit the subsequent insertion of the rigid surgical instruments. Indeed, in most traditional FESS procedures, if the uncinate process is allowed to remain, such can interfere with endoscopic visualization of the maxillary sinus ostium and ethmoidbulla, as well as subsequent dissection of deep structures using the available rigid instrumentation.

More recently, new devices, systems and methods have been devised to enable the performance of FESS procedures and other ENT surgeries with minimal or no removal or modification of normal anatomical structures. Such new methods include, but are not limited to, uncinate-sparing procedures using Balloon Sinuplasty™ tools and uncinate-sparing ethmoidectomy procedures using catheters, non-rigid instruments and advanced imaging techniques (Acclarent, Inc., Menlo Park, Calif.). Examples of these new devices, systems and methods are described in incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/829,917 entitled Devices, Systems and Methods for Diagnosing and Treating Sinusitis and Other Disorders of the Ears, Nose and/or Throat; Ser. No. 10/944,270 entitled Apparatus and Methods for Dilating and Modifying Ostia of Paranasal Sinuses and Other Intranasal or Paranasal Structures; Ser. No. 11/116,118 entitled Methods and Devices for Performing Procedures Within the Ear, Nose, Throat and Paranasal Sinuses filed Apr. 26, 2005 and Ser. No. 11/150,847 filed Jun. 10, 2005, each of which is hereby incorporated herein, in its entirety. Procedures using Balloon Sinuplasty™ tools such as those described in the above-noted applications, for example, are performable using various types of guidance including but not limited to C-arm fluoroscopy, transnasal endoscopy, optical image guidance and/or electromagnetic image guidance.

In FESS procedures, the surgeon typically holds or navigates the endoscope with one hand while using the other hand to handle the surgical instruments. Recognizing the desirability of integrating an endoscope with an operative device so that both could be moved with a single hand, application Ser. No. 11/234,395 filed Sep. 23, 2005 describes a number of transnasally insertable sinus guides that have endoscopes attached thereto or integrated therewith.

There remains a need for further development of new devices and methodology to facilitate the integration of endoscopes with sinus guides and/or other instruments to facilitate endoscopic viewing of guidewires and/or other devices/instruments as they are transnasally inserted, positioned and used to treat disorders of the ear, nose, throat, paranasal sinuses or other intracranial disorders that are transnasally accessible.

SUMMARY

OF THE INVENTION

A beneficial aspect of the present invention is to allow a user to be able to see an adjustable view, with an endoscope, that is generally aligned with the same axis of movement of the user's working device. This is particularly useful when the axis of movement is at an angle with respect to the axis of entry into the patient. This aspect allows the user to see “around the corner” of anatomy that ordinarily would block his/her view and which would therefore require removal in a traditional FESS procedure to allow visualization. This aspect of the invention allows the user to also verify the location of his/her Balloon Sinuplasty™ tools without having to use fluoroscopy or image guidance systems, so that the procedure does not have to be performed in an operating room. Another beneficial aspect of the present invention is that it enables a reduction in the amount of fluoroscopy that needs to be performed by the user doing the procedure, resulting in a reduction in radiation exposure to the user and the patient.

Another beneficial aspect of the present invention is that it allows a user to hold a tool with an endoscope attached or incorporated therein, such that both can be held with one hand while allowing the user to manipulate another tool with the other hand, thereby eliminating the need for an assistant.

A method for positioning a guide device useful for delivering at least one working device therethrough to deliver a working end portion thereof to a desired location within the ear, nose, throat or cranium of a human or animal patient is provided, including the steps of: inserting an endoscope into or through an endoscope channel of the guide device that includes an elongated shaft; inserting the guide device into an internal space of the patient; and viewing through the endoscope to guide positioning and delivery of the guide device to an intended location in the patient.

A method for locating a sinus ostium is provided, including the steps of: inserting an endoscope through a nostril of a patient and advancing the endoscope toward a location of the sinus ostium; inserting a guidewire through the nostril and advancing a distal end portion of the guidewire distally of a distal end of the endoscope; and viewing, through the endoscope, the advancement of the distal end portion of the guidewire to facilitate guidance of the advancement of the guidewire along a desired path.

A method for treating a patient is provided, including the steps of: inserting an endoscope into or through an endoscope channel of a guide device that includes an elongated shaft; inserting the guide device through a nostril of the patient; advancing a distal end portion of the guide device toward a sinus ostium of the patient; advancing a distal end portion of the endoscope distally of the distal end portion of the guide device, and navigating the distal end portion of the endoscope through the sinus ostium, said navigating being assisted by visualization through the endoscope.

A method of visually inspecting a sinus cavity is provided, including the steps of: inserting an endoscope through a lumen of a working device having previously been inserted through a nostril of a patient, through a sinus ostium and into the sinus cavity; and viewing the sinus cavity through the endoscope.

A method of directing a guidewire to a target location within the ear, nose, throat or cranium of a patient is provided, including the steps of: inserting an illuminating guidewire internally of the patient; emitting light from a distal end portion of the guidewire; and tracking movements of the distal end portion of the guidewire by tracking movements of an illumination spot visible externally of the patient, wherein movements of the illumination spot correspond to movements of the distal end portion of the guidewire internally of the patient.

A guide device useable to position a working device at a desired location within the ear, nose, throat or cranium of a human or animal subject is provided, including: a transnasally insertable elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a first channel into which an endoscope may be inserted so that the endoscope may be used to view at least an area beyond the distal end of the shaft; and a second channel through which the working device may be advanced, wherein the first channel is statically located relative to the second channel.

A flexible microendoscope is provided, including: an elongated shaft; a plurality of image fibers; a lens attached at distal end of said image fibers; and a plurality of light transmitting fibers; wherein the microendoscope has a cross-sectional area permitting insertion into a nasal cavity of a patient.

An illuminating guidewire device is provided, including: a flexible distal end portion; at least one light emitting element in the distal end portion; at least one structure extending from a proximal end of the device through a proximal end portion of the device and at least part of the distal end portion to connect the at least one light emitting element with a power source; a coil; and at least one coil support within the coil, with at least a portion of each coil support fixed to the coil.

A method of making an illuminating guidewire is provided, including the steps of: providing a coil having a predetermined length and diameter; inserting mandrels through an annulus of the coil; inserting a first core support into the coil and fixing a portion of the first core support at a predetermined length from a distal end of the coil; removing a mandrel and inserting a second core support; fixing said second core support at predetermined locations along a length thereof, to the coil and fixing the first core support at additional locations along the length thereof to the coil; and inserting illumination fibers.

A transnasally insertable guide system for positioning an endoscope at a desired location within the ear, nose, throat or cranium of a human or animal subject is provided, including: a tubular guide having an elongate shaft and a lumen, at least a portion of the elongate shaft having a predetermined shape; a sheath sized to be inserted into the lumen of the tubular guide, the sheath comprising an elongate flexible body having a distal end and a scope lumen; and an endoscope that is advanceable through the scope lumen of the sheath, wherein the endoscope is useable to view the anatomy when advanced through the scope lumen of the sheath having been inserted into the guide and the guide having been inserted into an internal space within the patient; and wherein the sheath and endoscope are thereafter removable leaving the tubular guide in place.

A guide device useable to position a working device at a desired location within the ear, nose, throat or cranium of a human or animal subject is provided, including: a transnasally insertable elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a channel through which the working device may be advanced, wherein the shaft comprises an oblique distal tip.

These and other features of the invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading the details of the devices, methods and systems as more fully described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a guide system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the guide system of the present invention in use on a human subject.

FIG. 3A is a side view of the guide catheter of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view through line 3B-3B of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is a cross sectional view through line 3C-3C of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3D is a side view of the endoscope of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3E is a cross sectional view through line 3D-3D of FIG. 3C.

FIG. 3F is a cross-sectional view of a low profile endoscope.

FIG. 3G is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a low profile endoscope.

FIG. 3H illustrates a steering mechanism provided in an endoscope that can be operated from a proximal end portion of the endoscope.

FIG. 3I illustrates a guide device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3J illustrates a distal portion of a guide device having a removably attached endoscope channel.

FIG. 3K illustrates a snap fitting that may be used to releasably attach an endoscope channel to a main tube of a sinus guide.

FIG. 3L is a side view of the connector/camera/light cable assembly of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3M illustrates a snap fitting that may be used to releasably connect an endoscope and a sinus guide in a coaxial orientation.

FIG. 4A shows a distal portion of a guide device configured with a static channel, for accessing a sphenoid sinus.

FIG. 4B shows a distal portion of a guide device configured with a static channel, for accessing a frontal sinus.

FIG. 5A illustrates a partial plan view of guide device showing one embodiment of a handle.

FIG. 5B illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A illustrates another embodiment of a guide device.

FIG. 6B illustrates another embodiment of a guide device.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate distal end portions of guide devices having curved sections, each with a different radius of curvature.

FIGS. 8A-8D are cross-sectional illustrations showing various placement locations of an endoscope channel within a main tube of a guide device.

FIG. 9A illustrates a guide device having a distal end with a circular tip.

FIG. 9B illustrates a guide device having a distal end with an oblique tip.

FIG. 9C illustrates an end view of the device of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9D illustrates an end view of the device of FIG. 9B.

FIG. 10A illustrates the reduced profile of a device having an oblique tip relative to the profile of the device having a circular end that is substantially perpendicular to the tubing at the end in FIG. 10B.

FIG. 10B shows a device in which both tubes have circular ends that are substantially perpendicular to the walls of the tubing.

FIGS. 10C-10D show reduced profiles of oblique tip devices including a set back endoscope channel.

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of a guide device of the present invention with an optional linking apparatus for linking the endoscope to a working device to deter divergence of the endoscope away from the path of the working device.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a guidewire having an angled distal tip.

FIG. 13A shows a step in a method for using a guide system of the present invention in conjunction with the guidewire of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13B shows another step in a method for using a guide system of the present invention in conjunction with the guidewire of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a procedure in which a guide device has been introduced through a nostril and an endoscope has been delivered through a sinus ostium.

FIG. 15 illustrates a working device having been inserted through the guide device of FIG. 14 and into a sinus cavity.

FIG. 16 illustrates a method in which an endoscope has been inserted through a lumen of a working device to enter a sinus cavity.

FIGS. 17A-17D are illustrations of partial sagittal sectional views through a human head showing various steps of one embodiment of a method of gaining access to a paranasal sinus using a sinus guide.

FIG. 18 illustrates use of an endoscope inserted through the guide device for visualization.

FIG. 19 shows an illuminating guidewire according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates an end view of a semi-cylindrical illumination fiber.

FIG. 21A shows a core support that may be used to support an illuminating guidewire.

FIG. 21B shows a core support that may be used to support an illuminating guidewire.

FIGS. 21C-21D illustrate a variation of the core support shown in FIG. 21A.

FIG. 22A shows an example of a core support formed from an oval wire.

FIG. 22B illustrates a proximal end view of the core support of FIG. 22A.

FIG. 23A shows a distal portion of a coil having been stretched to break tension between adjacent coils and to form an open-pitch portion.

FIG. 23B illustrates insertion of mandrels and a first core support into a coil.

FIG. 23C shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 23C-23C of FIG. 23B.

FIGS. 24A-24B illustrate the sliding ability of core supports relative to one another during bending of the coil.

FIG. 25A illustrates an embodiment of an illuminating guidewire in production showing solder joints employed in this embodiment.

FIG. 25B is a longitudinal sectional view of the guidewire of FIG. 25A taken along line 25B-25B.

FIG. 25C is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 25A surrounded by line 25C.

FIG. 25D is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 25B surrounded by line 25D.

FIG. 26 illustrates a step of melting a polymer tube into the open-pitched portion of the coil.

FIGS. 27A-27B illustrate steps for mounting a connector to a proximal end of the illuminating guidewire.

FIG. 28 illustrates insertion of illumination fibers and formation of a distal lens.

FIG. 29 illustrates finishing steps at a proximal end of the illuminating guidewire.

FIG. 30 shows an embodiment of an illuminating guidewire without a proximal connector.

FIG. 31 illustrates an example of a permanently attached rotating male luer connector that is attached to a proximal end portion of an illuminating guidewire.

How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREEservice from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Endoscopic methods and devices for transnasal procedures or other areas of interest.###

Data source: patent applications published in the public domain by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Information published here is for research/educational purposes only. FreshPatents is not affiliated with the USPTO, assignee companies, inventors, law firms or other assignees. Patent applications, documents and images may contain trademarks of the respective companies/authors. FreshPatents is not responsible for the accuracy, validity or otherwise contents of these public document patent application filings. When possible a complete PDF is provided, however, in some cases the presented document/images is an abstract or sampling of the full patent application for display purposes. FreshPatents.com Terms/Support -g2-0.37